The Connection Between Music and Math

There have been several studies recently that confirm a connection between music and math. There seems to be a strong pattern between math, language, and music. Music is essentially a series of notes played in a pre-established pattern. Math works in a similar way. There is a finite number of ways that you can add, multiply, subtract, and divide numbers, the ultimate combination is still finite.

The same is true of music. Notes are combined in a series of groupings (almost and endless variety) but the number of sounds created is finite. It is patterns and combinations such as this that make music and math similar. Our brain seems to process the information from music and math in a different manner than it computes other information.

Babies are first attracted to speech when it sounds rhythmic and melodic. Parents instinctively know to talk to a baby in a tone that has melodic and bold sounding words throughout, rather than using a normal voice. You will probably notice that the baby pays more attention to you when you speak to them in a poetic, mathematical stride to them rather than when your words are mundane and spoken in a normal tone of voice.

Small children love to listen to music that has patterns and repetitive lines to it. This is because their brain is computing the music message in way that catches their interest and makes them think. And the more ways in which children are taught to think, the more they will learn and absorb.

Many young children will make their own music with anything that they can get their hands on. If you listen to the sounds that they are making you'll always find some sort of a pattern emerging. It is this ability to make patterns out of random sounds that influences how well the child will do at math skills later in life.

Various studies have shown that children who participate in musical activities, whether playing an instrument or listening to a variety of music, do better in math. Therefore, for a growing child it is important to have music as a part of their life and routine. They develop into people who are better at maths as their brains have been exercised and sharpened to discern patterns and repetition among the musical notes.

Math is essentially the following of known patterns to arrive at a conclusion. Once you know that formula to find the answer, such as the simple formula of addition or the more complex formula of determining the degrees of an angle, you'll be able to use that pattern to get that answer.

The inter-relationship between maths and music works both ways. Children who are good in maths are also competent when they take up music. Music may be in the form of playing an instrument or reading musical notes. Therefore, a combination of these two skills leads to better overall performance in school and better learning and skills.

The music also seems to have benefits that include everything from learning of language to improving math skills. Putting music into our lives from an early age, such as birth onwards, seem to give an advantage that can't be disputed. More and more studies confirm that there truly is a connection between music and math.

Article Source: http://www.azine.info

Nigel Joneston is the webmaster for For Very Good Music, a fantastic resource for information about music, For more articles on music why not visit: www.fvgmusic.com/articles

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